Angel's Diary: Day Four

26 June 2013

Another Update From Portugal

In the fourth installment of his Portuguese diary, Angel Martinez talks about his trial with Blackpool and some big news in the family...

Today we have been working hard again and everybody feels very tired. We played a football match and then we saw the Pilates teacher and thought 'oh no'. Instead it was a Yoga class to relax and it was a good way to finish the day. It is normal that everyone now feels sleepy after lots of training for some days.

The funny moment was when Teddy (Liam Tomsett) fell to the floor off the massage table. The leg broke and his face was very funny and everybody was laughing.

We have some players training with us at the moment and I remember what it was like to be on trial. I came to Portugal with the team two years ago because I knew that Holloway liked me and my football, but a trial in Spain is unusual. I played in La Liga for a few years and the second division so going to a team for trial is like when you are a kid.

I believed in myself and everybody was friendly with me when I arrived. It was a very strange experience for me to sit at a table and not speak English. It was frustrating to be in front of a player and not say something. I always tell players in Spain now that a trial is normal because the team want to see your attitude and how you're training. In England you can stay or the gaffer will say thank-you for your service. In Spain this is impossible, you have to sign first.

My first time in England was very, very difficult because of the language and the weather outside of the pitch. It's a different philosophy of life, even when I come back now for pre-season it is difficult for me to have lunch at 12pm or dinner at 7.30pm. Waking up at 7.30am is too early for me. Wow. I always have to change my habits and adapt to the country again.

I have Face Time, Skype and my phone to speak to my parents and brother so it's easy to be in contact with your family. The most important is to have my wife and daughter with me in England. In October we will have another girl and she will be English but that is fine. This is now my second home and I know that someday I will have to leave Blackpool but it will be difficult to leave the club. I'm now here for the third year and everything is very comfortable and I know people when I go by Lytham or Blackpool.